President Donald Trump responded with a sharp message to former US President Barack Obama after he mocked Trump's White House renovation project during a campaign rally in Ohio. Trump fired back in a social media post after Obama joked that the executive mansion under Trump looked like Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory.
In his online post, Trump accused Obama of incompetence and defended his own record on the economy, the auto industry, and foreign policy. Trump alleged that his predecessor had paid billions to Iran and provided Tehran with a path toward developing a nuclear weapon.
Trump also criticized Obama's history of political endorsements, pointing to his support for previous Democratic presidential nominees. He claimed that despite hard campaigning for both Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, both candidates ultimately lost their respective elections.
Further expanding his critique, Trump targeted Obama's recent political involvement in Michigan. He made harsh allegations against a local candidate backed by Democrats, contrasting the endorsement with his own economic and industrial achievements in the state while urging voters to support Republican candidate Mike Rogers instead.
During the Ohio rally that prompted the exchange, Obama had poked fun at extensive property changes at the executive mansion, suggesting Trump should host a home improvement show. Obama criticized the addition of a ballroom, modifications to the Rose Garden, and heavy gold interior decoration, drawing laughter from the gathered crowd before turning his focus to endorsing local Democratic candidates.